Austin, TX Visits Boston: Abundant Housing MA Three Cities: One Goal Discussion Panel

The visit from our delegation from Austin, TX culminated in an engaging panel discussion hosted by Abundant Housing MA at the Boston Public Library in Copley Square.

The panel featured Austin Mayor Pro Tem Leslie Pool, Austin Council Member Zo Qadri, Cambridge City Councilor Burhan Azeem, and Timothy Bray, Policy Director for Austin Council Member Chito Vela. Moderated by Boston City Councilors Enrique Pepén and Henry Santana, the discussion explored innovative strategies to address rising housing costs and expand affordable housing options.

Key topics included streamlining permitting processes, defining "affordability," and the creative tactics Austin has used to tackle the housing crisis. Councilor Burhan Azeem highlighted the importance of updating zoning and regulatory codes to prevent critical housing projects from being deemed "illegal" under outdated frameworks.

The conversation provided actionable insights and strengthened cross-city collaboration in addressing housing challenges.